Virgin Valley, Humboldt County, Nevada, USAi

Regional Level Types
Virgin Valley	Valley
Humboldt County	County
Nevada	State
USA	Country

A valley.

The Virgin Valley (including the Virgin Valley Mining District) is located in the extreme remote northwestern part of Humboldt County, Nevada, near the Oregon state line, and is within the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. About 68,000 acres have been set aside for general entry under the mining laws, while other areas have been withdrawn (closed) to mining claim location. The most notable mineral occurrence in the area is Precious Opal, for which the area is world-famous. Precious opal from the Virgin Valley deposits occurs as whole or partial replacements of mid-Miocene petrified or fossilized wood and, on rare occasions, pine cones. The opals occur in two distinct types of deposits: Lode (primary, source, or in-situ), and Placer (alluvial, secondary) deposits. Three patented opal mines (Rainbow Ridge, Royal Peacock, and Bonanza) are open to the public during the summer months for fee digging. There are an estimated 150 to 300 active mining claims at any given time in the area. Lesser-known deposits for dimension stone, diatomite, manganese, and metals, exist. The Virgin Valley Black Fire Opal was designated the official precious gemstone for the State of Nevada in 1987 by the Nevada Legislature. Building Stone (dimension stone) was first quarried here for local homesteads and ranches in the late 1800s. Precious Opal was first discovered about 1905. There are an estimated 20 to 35 working private opal mines any given year.

The Virgin Valley area contains a barely scratched precious opal reserve and resource, and is part of a 68,000 acre area set aside for entry under the general mining laws. The opal-bearing areas are spread out over a large area, but the precious opal occurrences are smaller, isolated deposits within the region. Common opal is just that, "common," and can be found throughout the area, along with petrified wood, agate, and obsidian. Most precious opal producing ground is covered by valid mining claims. Very few of the nearly 200 claims in the Valley actually produce precious opal. There are five patented mine groups in the mining district. Virgin Valley is considered to be the premiere source of precious opal in the United States (Jones, 2004, page 14). The most productive mines to date have been the famous Royal Peacock, Virgin Opal (Bonanza), and Rainbow Ridge Mines (United States Geological Survey, 1984, page 6).

The closest town is Denio (NV) about 32 miles (ca. 51 km) to the northeast (paved road). Lakeview (OR) is 95 miles (ca. 153 km) northwest (paved road), and Winnemucca (NV) is about 120 miles (ca. 193 km) southeast (paved road). Virgin Valley can also be accessed from Cedarville (CA), 56 miles (ca. 90 km) away, during summer months by gravel road (not recommended unless experienced with this area). The closest gas is available in Denio Junction (31 miles (ca. 50 km)) and in Fields, Oregon. The average high desert mining season is from May until mid-October, but the area is sometimes accessible year-round, weather permitting.

Other Databases

Wikipedia:	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Valley
Wikidata ID:	Q7933993

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References